Fiela se kind (Afrikaans Edition) by Matthee, Dalene
Fiela se Kind
’n Tydlose Meesterwerk van die Knysna-woude en Menslike Lojaliteit
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: Fiela se Kind
- Author: Dalene Matthee
- Publisher: Tafelberg-Uitgewers, Kaapstad
- Publication Date: 1985
- ISBN-10: 0624022692
- ISBN-13: 9780624022695
- Edition Details: First Edition, Hardcover Release (Early Printing).
- Binding: Original publisher's premium cloth-bound boards with crisp title tooling on the spine.
- Physical Format: Octavo (8vo), 314 pages.
- Language: Afrikaans
Official Condition Report
- The Book: Very Good (VG)
- Exterior / Boards: The original cloth-bound boards are solid, square, and well-preserved. The spine remains unbent and firmly bound to the pages.
- Interior: The pages are remarkably clean, bright, and free of annotations, highlighting, or dog-ears.
- Provenance: Features a neat previous owner's name inscription tastefully penned on the first preliminary page, preserving its custodial history.
- The Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)
- Condition Detail: The original illustrated dust jacket is well-preserved, showing only slight natural handling wear along the edges. Now professionally protected with a brand-new, clear archival-grade plastic sleeve to prevent future shelf friction and preserve its long-term value.
Synopsis & Historical Value
Originally published in 1985, Fiela se Kind is one of the most celebrated and beloved novels in South African literary history. Set in the 19th-century Cape, Dalene Matthee tells the story of Fiela Komoetie, a proud Coloured woman in the Langkloof who takes in and raises a stranded white toddler, Benjamin. Years later, census takers discover the child and forcibly place him with the grim Van Rooyen family of forest woodcutters, who claim he is their long-lost son.
Matthee masterfully explores identity, institutional injustice, and the unconditional bond of a mother's love against the beautifully contrasting landscapes of the arid Langkloof and the dense Knysna forests. This specific early hardcover copy is a vital addition for serious collectors of fine Afrikaans fiction and classic Africana literature.
Author Profile: Dalene Matthee
Dalene Matthee (1938–2005) was an acclaimed South African author who achieved global recognition for her monumental "Forest Novels" series. Born in Riversdale, she studied music before turning to literature. Her meticulous botanical and historical research into the Knysna forest industry transformed her stories into rich historical documents. Her works were translated into more than fourteen languages, earned numerous literary awards, and firmly established her as an iconic voice in modern Afrikaans fiction.
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